Gardening and Health

It seems as I age the topic of health keeps intruding on my
consciousness. Here are two sites that touch on this issue.
Bill who knows what Melanoma and CAD is and has a spouse due for knee
replacement in two 9 weeks. Who will really do the gardening then :))
<http://www.canadianliving.com/health/mind_and_spirit/your_health_10_thin
gs_to_do_in_april.php>
<http://youtube.com/watch?v=cOkWG85ReT4

I hope you are not telling us something when you mention melanoma,
Bill. I know you have had the other procedure done.
Funny thing, there is a balance between vit D production, produced by
exposure to sunlight, and it's effects against cancer, and too much sun
that can cause cancer. Sigh.......
Thanks for the links. I do hope the knee replacement for your honey
goes well. Please let us know how it turns out, both in the short and
long term.
Charlie, who has been recommended to have replacement on account of
stupid competetive sports many decades ago, Still chooglin' and
avoidin' the procedure.

It's a hell of a lot better than most of the other stuff with which I
labored thru my life. Honest sweat in the garden.
Charlie, switched over to Springsteen in concert on the youtube...Bruce
and the Session's Band doin' Jacob's Ladder and We Shall Overcome
.....singin' to the choir friend, singin' to the choir...Pete is up
next.......maybe some Joan after that.......building up steam for the
week to come! Where did they all go? ;-)

The older you get the harder the recovery period. Believe me, I
wanted to ignore how much pain I and forget the surgery, but at 52
I'm glad I didn't wait. I can now go food shopping without that speed
wagon! I only used it for a few months after surgery.
v

Funny thing is, I don't have near the pain that so many experience,
though I have severe osteoarthritis in this knee and it is
untrustworthy. When I had cartilage removal, this was in the days of
two six incisions and months of recovery, I had nerve damage that has
never recovered. A large area of skin around the knee has minimal
feeling and I wonder if this also affects the pain reception deeper in.
Who knows......I intend to put it off as long as possible, recovery be
damned. Surgery scares the bejeebers outta me any more, seriously,
there are too many variables to consider. All the hospitals around
have problems with MRSA. Our agency has lost two people we support to
surgery induced MRSA, though the hospitals would *never* admit to this.
MRSA infection is effing rampant in this country and there is no effing
excuse for this, other than greed.
I still get around well, with minimum pain, just have to be careful
about uneven surfaces and rising and lowering. I always use a walking
staff when hiking about, like fishing and mushroom hunting, etc.
But having said all this, were I to be incapacitated the way you
describe, it may be a different story. My MIL is to have hers replaced
in two weeks. She is 80 and cannot walk now without difficulty and
great pain.
Thanks and sorry for the long-winded response.
Now, get out there and attack those weeds, Speedy! ;-)
Charlie

I would get out there and weed, but here in Texas when it's supposed
to be 80 degrees, it's only barely 50. My ears freeze off when it's
this cold out and I just can't do a thing. Maybe this afternoon I can
do some work out front.
The great thing about a garden using native or adapted plants is that,
I leave them be and if they live, they live. This year I am not
replacing anything. If it died, goodbye!
v

I had full knee replacement on Jan. 29 of this year and I am still in
physical therapy. I was at 3x a week and starting next week we drop
to 2x a week. I still cannot knee, not even on the bed or couch. I
developed an adhesion (which is normal) on he outer side of my knee
which is pulling on my muscles and connective tissue and every now and
then takes my breath away. I continue to use my Pilates machine and
swim laps and slowly it is getting better. It takes time, but the
actual knee is giving me no pain, it's everything else they touch in
there. It is paramount to do everything they say to do, and if your
wife has time I'd say it would greatly benefit her to get into PT
before the surgery.
I can now garden if I sit on my Garden Rocker and have a way to pull
myself up. They did teach me how to use the weight of my body to get
up so that's been helpful. The main thing is, no matter how much it
hurts, take pain medication and push, push, push.
V

Ingrid my better half was 20 and doing student teaching 41 years ago.
Seems a young student tackled here in a softball game. Surgery was not
perfect but she worked on it. Gave me five kids!
She tried to hold off as long as possible as we hear it is only good
for about 15 years if lucky similar to heart bypass. Her mom and my dad
had it done so we sort of know.
Ingrid btw is named after the daughter of the god of war. Pretty
tough has been doing her own PT in a pool 3 times a week for years.
She intends to visit her 92 year old mom in Florida just before surgery
come home and plant her double impatient's and go on. Hell we may have
a wedding in two years.
Bill

I also did my own PT in the pool, but there is nothing to compare to
myofascial release and the way they help build up the area so the
muscles move faster after surgery. Anyway, it's only a suggestion.
As for the lasting period for the prosthetic; there is no date on the
new units. My doctor told me I will probably have this knee for the
rest of my life without problems. Also, I had computer assisted
surgery, so my leg is perfectly alligned and the length was even
fixed. I was a bit taller on the right, which always gave me pelvic
problems with cramps inside my groin.
Getting older sucks the big one, but I'm thrilled with life and glad
to be alive.

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